I’m writing this solely for Music Think Tank in regards to something I’ve observed in the music industry over the past while, and you may agree or disagree. None of the points are etched in stone, but rather applicable on an intuitive, case by case basis (meaning sometimes you need to follow the rules, sometimes not). I hope it’s a conversation starter. Before I go into this, I’d like to state that it is both respectful and necessary to follow submission guidelines and show a great respect for the publications who support independent music and art. However, doing only that may not be good enough.

When did independent musicians settle for waiting in line and following the rules? While it’s important for both organization’s sake and quality’s sake for publications, festivals, radio shows, blogs, record labels, etc to have submission policies, do’s and don’ts, I see a trend of conditioned illusion happening that I’d liken to a set of walls being placed around otherwise expansive and creative musical minds. This is the artist’s fault mainly, as it’s their own perception that has been downgraded.

Every institution has a lengthy set of rules. CMJ has theirs. Pitchfork has theirs. Coachella and Bonaroo have theirs. The quality mid-level publications and companies have their own unique set. When you visit your favourite music blog, chances are you’ll see a submissions email for their “review queue” where you can send your music to sit amongst a list of thousands of others. Sonicbids is one of the most well known music opportunities websites where some secure opportunities and many others wait in line until their efforts seemingly disappear into the ether.

Many of these rules are necessary and in some cases, you should abide by them. But I can’t help but thinking that the years of being told what to do by everyone from the smallest blogs to the largest indie institutions, the local club to the endless industry gurus and specialists with their endless titles (social media coaches, etc) has created a culture of young artists who are now programmed, conditioned to ask what to do. To ask for help. To try to be the next Arcade Fire or Nine Inch Nails, when those moments have already come and gone. To try to achieve “the CMJ sound”, whether that be hipster pop or electro folk this week, instead of speaking from their hearts and having something genuinely original to say. To wait in line in review queues and say “I hope it turns out.”

Has the spirit of true drive been lost? I feel the main reason for the continuation of this programming is the wide-spread illusion of a fair playing field. Most artists feel that when they send their music in for an opportunity, there is some sort of panel waiting to give a fair listen to their work. The fact is, right or wrong, fair or unfair, there is no such level playing field, and many of your detailed, personalized, effort-filled submissions are going nowhere, because in most cases there is no motivation or reason to write about your band. That’s a fact.

I typically use this example, but the Doors used to call in and request “Break on Through” on Los Angeles radio to get their foot in the door. That’s technically against the rules, and the indie institutions would definitely frown on that type of activity today, but I would say that if you do your diligence by letting your art come through you, not from you, and creating something great, you should then do anything within your power to make it happen.

Use Sonicbids. Send your music to CMJ. Send your music to the top 500 music blogs. Do all these things and 1,000 more. But if you only do those things, you could end right where you begin. Talk to people. Get on the phone. Be tenacious if you believe in your art. Do what other bands are not doing. Be provocative and think like an entrepreneur. Outsource your coverage and make it happen for yourself. Get a street team together. Get a freelance writing team together.

I doubt Pussy Riot settled for review queues, and I think the serious bands out there would benefit from thinking more creatively in this regard.

Reader Comments (2)

Well said! One of my "Laws" is: "Making it" is 1/3 Talent, 1/3 Luck & 1/3 Persistence. But, if you are persistent, you have a better chance to be in the right place at the right time - where you make your own luck!The sad part is, and where your comments are dead on - is this younger generation of people [15-28] is "the entitled generation", where they feel entitled to everything, instead of wanting to go out and earn it...

Hi Professor Pooch, thanks for commenting! I totally agree with the first part, but I think the younger generation is as they always have been. Some are incredibly smart and in-the-moment, while others are not, just like the older generation, but it's not age I'm referring to.

I actually think part of the problem is our endless indie institutions and their endless rules, programming, programming and programming artists some more. We rarely think about it. We've accepted them as if they were as valid as the ocean, but, while they definitely help artists get "exposure" and provide a certain structure for the spreading of music, there are also extremely negative sides such as the "CMJ" sound, or the "Triple J" sound, one carefully honed and decided by the powers that be of the organization. Many artists strive to achieve this sound and the result, as a whole, is a more monotonous, less passionate music world filled with copycats and authority. It's as if today's artists are being herded into convenient pens and the farmer will choose the ones who can work on the farm.

I'd like to see more artists think for themselves and ignore the "CMJ sound", the "Triple J sound" (just examples) and so on. The more artists who ignore the standardized expectation, the more we will break that pattern.

What I'm asking is, are there artists who can "make it" while completely ignoring these authoritative, essentially non-creative structures? It's a bit counter-intuitive to our current music scene to ask this, but possibly something important to discuss.

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